pip vs tox
pip
pip.pypa.iotox
tox.wikiSide by side
| Figure | pip | tox |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Python Package Managers | 8.3 (#3) | 7.2 (#26) |
| Installation options | pip is commonly installed with Python and can also be installed using ensurepip or get-pip.py. | The installation guide recommends pipx or uv for installing tox in an isolated environment and also provides pip instructions. |
| Purpose | pip is the package installer for Python and can install packages from PyPI and other indexes. | tox manages virtual environments, checks package builds and installations across different environments, and runs tests in those environments. |
| Support | The documentation directs users seeking help to GitHub Issues, the Discourse channel, and User IRC. | The development guide describes tox as a volunteer-maintained open-source project and directs people with issues to the issue tracker. |
Plans
In their own words
pip
pip installs Python packages from PyPI and other package indexes, as well as from version control URLs, local project directories, and source archives. It supports source distributions and wheels, resolves dependencies, and can install an environment specified in a requirements file. Its install command can produce a JSON report of installed packages. pip runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows, and the current version supports CPython 3.10 through 3.15 and the latest PyPy3. Other operating systems and Python versions are not supported by its maintainers. It is commonly included in virtual environments and Python downloads from python.org; ensurepip and get-pip.py are also installation options. An experimental standalone zip application is available, but its documentation advises against production use. pip is free. It does not collect telemetry, though it sends non-identifying details such as Python version and operating system to the remote indexes it accesses. Remote tampering checks are not enabled by default; hash-checking mode and binary-only installs are listed as more secure options.
tox
tox is a free, open-source command-line tool for creating virtual environments, checking package builds and installations across different environments, and running tests in them. It can orchestrate test runners, linters, formatters, documentation generators, and build or publishing tools. As a continuous-integration frontend, tox combines CI workflows with shell-based testing and reduces boilerplate. Configuration can be stored in tox.toml, tox.ini, pyproject.toml, or toxfile.py. By default, it removes host environment variables unless allowed through pass_env and adjusts PATH so commands use the active environment. The command-line tool requires Python 3.10 or higher. Installation guidance covers pipx, uv, and pip, with apt and brew package-manager routes also documented. Plugins include tox-gh-actions for GitHub Actions, tox-uv for faster package installation, and tox-gh for enhanced GitHub integration. It runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows and is maintained as a volunteer open-source project.